Wedding, Interrupted (Published under Pop Fiction)

3: Sigourney

"Oh my God, Sig..." Minnie was breathless as she surveyed me wearing my wedding gown. Today was my final fitting, and of course, I brought my best friend with me to the bridal boutique. "Ang ganda-ganda mo."

"It's perfect, isn't it?" I said before twirling like a princess. My gown was probably the most beautiful thing I'd ever laid my eyes upon, with its sweetheart neckline, intricate beading on the bodice, and its dreamy layered skirt which, despite being voluminous, somehow managed to make me look slimmer. The shimmering embellishments on the tulle fabric gave the impression that I had just been showered with fairy dust.

Minnie and the boutique assistant attending to us today both clapped before sighing happily.

"I can't wait for Jaron to see me in this gown," kinikilig na sabi ko. "One month na lang at magiging Mrs. Silvera na ako."

Minnie gave me a hug. Alam kong hindi pa rin siya isang daang porsiyentong kumbinsido kay Jaron para sa akin, but I appreciate that she's trying to set aside her disapproval of my fiancé. I know that she was genuinely happy for me.

"Napakaswerte ni Jaron sa'yo," linya ng best friend ko nang kumalas na kami mula sa aming pagkakayakap. "'Wag na 'wag ka lang niyang sasaktan dahil hindi ako magdadalawang-isip na habulin siya ng taga."

"Sira ka talaga!" Tumawa ako. "Alam kong hindi ako magagawang saktan ni Jaron. Kaya relax ka lang diyan, Min."

"Sabi mo, e." My best friend smiled. "Kumusta pala ang wedding preparations? Meron ka pa bang kailangang asikasuhin? Sabihan mo lang ako."

"Wala na." I grinned triumphantly at her. "Everything's set. Hinihintay ko na lang na mag-RSVP ang wedding guests namin. Most of them already confirmed their attendance, anyway... except for some of Jaron's relatives."

"E 'di sabihan mo 'yang fiancé mo na kulitin ang mga kamag-anak niya." This time, Minnie was unable to suppress a smirk. "Tinulungan ka man lang ba ni Jaron sa pag-aasikaso para sa kasal niyo?"

Truth be told, Jaron barely helped, but I was hesitant to admit it to Minnie. Kaya sinabi ko na lang na, "Alam mo namang busy si Jaron sa trabaho niya, Min."

"Busy ka rin naman sa trabaho, ah." Minnie crossed her arms.

"Between the two of us, it's he who has the more demanding job," I reasoned out.

My best friend shook her head. "Ikaw talaga, Sigourney... mahal na mahal mo 'yang si Jaron. Alam ko naman na hindi na kita mapipigilan, kaya huling beses ko nang sasabihin sa'yo 'to, ha? Bago ka tuluyang magpatali sa kanya, siguraduhin mong kung gaano mo siya kamahal, ganoon ka rin niya kamahal. O kung maaari, mas higit pa."

I smiled, more to reassure my best friend than anything. I knew she's just trying to look out for me, dahil ulila na ako sa mga magulang at last year ay kamamatay lang din ng nag-iisa kong kapatid dahil sa isang malubhang sakit. Minnie's the closest thing to a family that I have, so I try not to resent her despite her disapproval of Jaron.

"If there's one thing in the world that I'm sure of, Minnie... it's that Jaron loves me as much as I love him."

****

To my surprise, Jaron was waiting outside the bridal boutique. And by the baffled look on Minnie's face, I knew that she, too, had no idea that my fiancé was planning to turn up for my final fitting.

"Babe!" I rushed over to him and gave him a hug. "Bakit nandito ka? Akala ko ba, may imi-meet kang kliyente ngayon?"

"My client requested for a reschedule." Jaron gave me a quick kiss on the lips. "How's the fitting?"

"My gown fits me perfectly." I beamed at him. "Kaya 'wag mo muna akong dalhin sa paborito nating restaurant, okay? Kailangang ma-maintain ko ang figure ko."

My fiancé grinned. "Alright, if you say so." He then finally acknowledged Minnie, who was watching us beadily, with a single wave of his hand. "Hey, Minnie. Thanks for keeping Sig company."

Minnie smiled condescendingly at him. "No worries, Jaron. Never ko namang iniwan sa ere si Sig, hindi tulad ng iba diyan."

If Jaron detected Minnie's patronizing tone, he decided to ignore it. "Right. It's almost lunchtime – saan niyo gustong kumain?"

"Ay, hindi na ako sasabay sa inyo. Malamang ay hinahanap na ako ng anak ko. Pinakiusapan ko lang si Nick na mag-half day sa trabaho para bantayan ang baby namin, dahil nga sasamahan ko itong si Sig."

"Sure ka?" tanong ko sa best friend ko.

"Oo naman." Minnie gave me a quick hug. "Paano, mauna na ako ha? Kapag may kailangan kang tulong, Sig, i-text mo lang ako."

"Thanks, Min."

After a final wink at me and a curt nod to Jaron, Minnie headed to the nearest bus stop to wait for a ride to take her home.

****

"Babe, may mga hindi pa nag-a-RSVP sa wedding invite natin," pagpapaalala ko kay Jaron nang kumakain na kami ng lunch. My fiancé was enjoying a hearty meal while I opted for a serving of garden salad instead. I was already missing my desserts, pero alam kong kailangan kong magsakripisyo kung gusto kong magkasya sa akin ang wedding gown ko sa araw ng aming kasal.

"Sinu-sino?" Jaron inquired.

I took out the notebook I was using to jot down wedding-related stuff from my bag. I read him the names – five Silveras, including his cousin Sebastian.

"Don't worry, babe." He gave me a reassuring smile. "I'll remind them."

I smiled back at him. "Thanks. Unahin mo nang i-remind ang best man mo."

"Seb will surely be there, so don't worry about his response. Alam niya kasing lagot siya sa akin kapag hindi siya pumunta." Jaron chuckled. "Relax ka lang, okay? Bawal ma-stress ang bride-to-be ko."

"Ang bilis ng panahon, 'no? One month na lang, ikakasal na tayo."

"Yup. And I can't wait for you to be my wife." He took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Mrs. Sigourney Silvera... it has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"

"Of course I do. Although, I'm dreading having to change all my legal identification to my married name. Ang daming kailangang asikasuhin."

"I think you forgot who you're marrying." Jaron grinned. "Atty. Jaron Silvera, at your service. I have a number of useful contacts who can make things easier for you."

"Babe!" I told him in a chastising way, although I wasn't able to suppress a chuckle. "Hindi naman kailangang gumamit ng connections sa lahat ng bagay."

"If you say so." Jaron shrugged playfully. "Ayoko lang namang nahihirapan ka. I'm going to treat you like a queen, Sig."

"Aww." I reached over and kissed him on the cheek. "Ang sweet naman ng future husband ko." Moments like this remind me of why I said yes to Jaron, and why Minnie's doubts about him were unfounded.

I'm really, really lucky to be the future Mrs. Silvera.